JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The No. 22 Ohio State women’s track and field team wrapped up day two of the 2012 NCAA East Regional Prelims with Shaniqua McGinnis and Nyjah Cousar both qualifying for nationals. Four other members of the Scarlet and Gray also qualified for quarterfinal races to be held Saturday.

Senior McGinnis ran a 52.78 to claim the final qualifying spot in the 400m dash. McGinnis will travel to the NCAA championships to compete for the title in her final season. Marlena Wesh (51.59) from Clemson will enter the NCAAs with the fastest qualifying time from the East. Cousar (58.19) will join McGinnis at the championship meet after placing tenth in the 400m hurdles. Tennessee’s Ellen Wortham ran a 55.70 to lead the region.

Ohio State sent three to the prelims of the 100m hurdles and all three will advance to the quarterfinals to be ran Saturday at 7:20 p.m. ET. Leading the Buckeyes and the competition was Christina Manning (12.98) who placed second overall and first in her heat. Manning was narrowly edged by Central Florida’s Jackie Coward who ran a 12.97. Christienne Linton took 17th overall with a PR of 13.35 and freshman Alexandria Johnson qualified with a 25th-place finish in 13.51.

In her first NCAA East Regional meet, Aisha Cavin turned in a PR of 23.73 to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 200m dash. Cavin will run Saturday at 7:50 p.m. to compete for a qualifying spot to nationals. Chesna Sykes (24.34) and Madison McNary (25.34) also ran but did not qualify. Duncan will be the biggest competition in the 200 entering with a prelim time of 22.68. Linton crossed the line in 11.61 for 21st in the 100m dash quarterfinals but did not qualify for the next round. Kimberlyn Duncan from LSU ran an 11.18 to turn in the fastest qualifying time in the region.

Nicole Hilton (10:27.94) and Tori Brink (10:36.96) finished up their seasons by giving their all in the 3000m steeplechase. Hilton ran a PR but neither Buckeye qualified. Florida State’s Astrid Leutert finished the race in 9:53.15 for first.

With a throw of 43.92m (144-1), Carly Pendleton placed 33rd overall in her first NCAA East Regional meet. Pendleton did not qualify for nationals but her older sister, Emily Pendleton (55.08m/180-8), finished first representing Michigan to claim her place at the NCAA meet. Ashley Galbraith cleared the high jump bar at 1.72m (5-7.75) to conclude her Ohio State career.

Saturday’s field events begin at 2 p.m. and the running events are scheduled to start at 6:15 p.m.